Leather working machine



Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER -WCRKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 19406 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH 2,305,879

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22,1942. J. E. LE ACH 2,305,879

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 22,1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER WORKING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1940 '6Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH LEATHER WCRKING MACHINE;v

Filed July 30, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 22, 1942. J. E. LEACH ,3

LEATHER WCRKING MACHINE Filed July so, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet e PatentedDec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEATHER WORKING MACHINE John-Edgar Leach, Bristol, Pa., assignor to Fulton County Machine and Supply00., Inc., Gloversville, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationJuly 30, 1940, Serial No. 348,590

" of one of theelements of the mechanism shown 2 Claims.

This invention relates to leather shaving and like machines, and aprincipal object of the invention is to provide an efficient andgenerally improved machine of this class.

A specific object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of thischaracter, novel and improved means for maintaining the blades of thework cylinder in sharp condition, said sharpening means constituting anoperative part of the machine and obviating hand-sharpening operationsand interruption of the machine during the sharpening process.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means for guiding thework to the work cylinder and'for maintaining a constant relationbetween the elements of the guiding and feeding mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and improvedmeans for adjusting the machine for different thicknesses of skin orleather and to regulate the depth of cut.

The invention resides further in certain structural and mechanicaldetails hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine made in accordance withmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view embracing that portion of the machineindicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same lineas Fig. 4 and illustrating certain details of mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one of the elements shownin Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view illustrating a detail ofmechanism;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9, Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one of thedetails of mechanism shown particularly in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view illustrating amodification within the scope of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-l2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of that portion of the machine shown inFig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective View on which is mounted anelectric motor 2'. tor is connected through belts 3 and pulleys 4 and inthe immediately preceding figures.

With reference to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitableframe I,at the rear end of This mo- 5 with a shaft 6 which is journaled insuitable bearings I also at the rear of the frame. At each end of theshaft 6 is a pulley 8, and these pulleys are connected through belts 9,9 with pulleys II, II at opposite ends respectively of a shaft I2, thisshaft being journaled in suitable bearings I3, I3 at the top forward endof the frame. The shaft I2 carries a Work cylinder I4 which in thepresent instance is provided with a series of spirally arranged cuttingblades I5, see Figures 3 and 4, and these blades constitute the activeleather-shaving elements.

Mounted at the top and in the mid section of the frame I is a transverseguide I6, and slidably mounted on this guide is a carriage II. Journaledin the opposite ends of the guide It is a screw shaft I8, and this shaftpasses freely through a pair of spaced flanges I9 which depend from thebottom of the carriage I! through a longitudinal opening 2| in themember I6. Confined closely between these flanges is a nut 22 whichmeshes with the threads of the shaft I8, the nut being restrainedagainst rotation so that when the said shaft is rotated, the nut andwith it the carriage I! will be advanced transversely of the machineupon the guide I6 and in one or other direction, depending upon thedirection of rotation of the screw shaft I8.

As shown in Fig. l, the shaft l8 carries at one end a gear 23, and thisgear meshes with a pinion 24 which is mounted on a stub shaft 25, thislatter shaft being journaled at one end in a bearing formed between thetop of the frame I and the base of the guide member I6, and at the otherend in a bracket 26 secured to the inside of the casing, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The stub shaft 25 carries three pulleys 21, 28 and 29, ofwhich the pulley 28 is secured to the shaft, while the pulleys 2! and 29are idlers and are free to rotate upon and with respect to the shaft. Acorresponding set of three pulleys 3| are secured to the shaft 6 inalignment with the pulleys 21, 28 and 29, see Fig. 4, and between thetwo groups of pulleys extend two belts 32 and 33, the belt 33 beingcrossed as illustrated. In Fig. 3, it will be noted that the fiat belt32 is engaged with the idler pulley 21, while the twisted belt 33engages the intermediate active pulley 28. These two belts are adaptedto be shifted, by meanshereinafter described, to positions in which theflat belt 32 engages the active pulley 28, while the twisted belt 33engages the other idler pulley 29. The direction of rotation of theshaft 25, therefore, will depend upon which one of the belts 32 and 33is at the moment in engagement with the active pulley 28.

The belt-shifting device is illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 9. Itconsists of a rod 34 which extends in parallel relation to the guide l6and shaft I8 and which is slidably supported in the opposite sides ofthe frame I. This rod has attached thereto forks 35 and 35 whichrespectively embrace the belts 32 and 33. The proximate end 31 of therod 34 is flattened to rectangular shape and projects through acorrespondingly shaped opening in the frame I, and this flattenedextremity is provided towards its outer end and on the under sidethereof with two notched recesses 38 and 39. Pivotally secured at 4| tothe wall of the frame I is a lever 42, one end of this lever carrying aweight 43 and the other a knife edge 44 which is adapted to engage thenotches 38 and 39, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. When the end 44 of thelever 42 engages the notch 38, the rod is in the longitudinal positionof adjustment shown in Fig. 3. When the rod is shifted longitudinally toan extent bringing the lever end 44 into the notch 39-, the forks 35 and36 will have been moved to an extent such that the belt 33 is shifted tothe idler pulley 29 and the belt 32 to the active pulley 28. Thisshifting of the belts will obviously result in a reversal of thedirection of rotation of the shaft 25, and since this shaft isoperatively connected through the pinion 24 and gear 23 with the screwshaft l8, shifting of the belts as described will also result in areversal of direction of the latter shaft.

The carriage |1 carries a depending arm 45, the lower forked end ofwhich embraces a flanged collar 45 slidably supported on the rod 34, thesaidarm being confined between the terminal flanges 41, 41 of thecollar. Supported on opposite ends of the rods are coiled springs 48 and49, the outer end of the spring 49 bearing against the end of the beltshifter 3535, and the outer end of the spring 48 against a collarsecured to the proximate end of the rod 34. When the carriage H hasadvanced in the one direction to an extent bringing the collar 43,through the arm 45, into operative engagement with the spring 49, thespring will be compressed and will eventually exert sufficient pressureagainst the belt shifter 3536 to shift the belts 32 and 33 as previouslydescribed so that the belt 32 will engage the pulley 28 and the belt 33the idler pulley 29. This will effect a reversal of the screw shaft l8as previously set forth and will actuate the carriage |1 toward theopposite side of the machine until the forked arm 45 is eventuallybrought into operative engagement with the spring 48. Increasingpressure on this spring will eventually cause a shifting of the rod 34and of the belt shifter 3536 to return the belts 32 and 33 to theposition shown in Fig. 3, thus again effecting a reversal of the screwshaft l8 and of the carriage H. The weighted lever 42 in coaction withthe notches 38 and 39 restrains the rod 34 against movement until thesprings 49 have been compressed to a certain extent, and the energy thusstored in the springs effects a desirable quick action of the beltshifter. transverse shuttle movement of the carriage I1 is continuousduring the operation of the machine.

The aforedescribed The carriage H has an upper relatively mov ablesection 52 which is adjustable on the inclined face 53 of the carriagethrough the medium of a hand wheel 54. This upper section 52 carries anelectric motor 55 which is connected through a belt 56 and pulleys 51and 58 with a shaft 59 journaled in the lower portion of the adjustablecarriage section 52. This shaft carries an abrasive wheel 6|, theperipheral face of which is adapted to contact the outer edges of theblades I5 of the rotary shaving cylinder l4, as best shown in Figs. 3and 4. As the carriage I1 is traversedon the guide l6 as describedabove, the rotating abrasive wheel 6| will be carried longitudinallyacross the face of the shaving drum, and will thereby maintain the outeractive edges of the blades |5 in sharp condition. Adjustment of theabrasive wheel 6| into proper contact with the blades of the drum I4 iseffected by adjustment of the upper section 52 of the carriage |1through the medium of the hand wheel 54 as previously described.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the cross carriage 52 is held to thecarriage H by dovetail guides 32, 62. The hand wheel 54 is attached to ashaft 63 journaled in the wall of the carriage 52, and

this shaft carries a bevel pinion 64' which meshes with a bevel gear 65on a screw shaft 66 also journaled, at 81, on the carriage 52. The screwshaft 65 engages a nut 68 which is fixed tothe carriage l1, so that whenthe shaft is turned, thecarriage 52 is adjusted on the guides 62 for thepurpose set forth.

Mounted at the front end and at each opposite side of the frame is abracket 1|. Secured in each of these brackets is a guide rod 12, andsupported for sliding movement on the rod is a member 13. Each of themembers 13 has a forwardly projecting arm 14, and mounted on thesearmsand extending transversely of the machine is a table 15. As shown inFig. 3, the upper surface of this table is provided with a series ofgrooves 16, the function of which will be hereinafter described.Supported in each of the brackets 1| for longitudinal sliding movementis an adjusting rod 11, the inner end portion of this rod havingthreaded engagement with the associated member 13. The inner extremityofthe rod 11 is adapted to bear against the back of the bracket 1|, andthe rod thereby constitutes an adjustable stop to limit the movement of:the member 13 in one direction.

Operatively connected to each of the members 13 is a bell crank lever18, see Figs. 2 and-4, and this lever is connected, through anadjustablerod 19, with a lever 8| to a rock shaft 82 journaled in and extendingbetween the side plates of the frame I. The rear end of each of thelevers 8| is weighted, as indicated at 83, and the forward ends of thesaid levers 8| jointly support a treadle 84. Normally the weights 83hold the rear ends of the levers 3|, to which the connecting rod 19isattached, in a depressed position whereby, through 1| may beregulated, or rather the extent to which the members13 may move; towardsthe When the rear ends" rear ends of the brackets. of i the levers 8 lare elevated: lay-pressure on' 'the treadle 84, the members 13, togetherwith the table I which is supported thereby, will be traversed in thebrackets II towards the front of the machine.

Journaled in the members "I3 is a feed roll 85, preferably rubbercovered, and this roll is adapted to cooperate with the work cylinderI4, as best shown in Fig. 4. The extent to which the roll 85 ispermitted to approach the work cylinder I4 is controlled by theadjustment of the rods H in the manner previously described. Preferablythere is sufficient play between the members I3 and the guide rods I2 topermit slight independent adjustment of the opposite ends of the roll soas to bring the surface of the roll into accurate alignment with theperiphery of the work cylinder I4.

The outer ends of the adjusting rods 'II are provided with dials 86which cooperate respectively with pointers 81 supported on the arms I4of the members I3. As shown in Fig. 8, the dials 86 are adjustable uponthe rods 'I'I angularly, and are held securely in adjusted position bymeans of a lock nut 88. These dials provide for accurate adjustment ofthe feed roll 85 with respect to the work cylinder I5 and also theopposite ends of the feed roll so as to bring the latter into accuratealignment with the work roll. The feed roll 85 is rotated through themedium of a belt 89, see Fig. 1, which operatively connects a pulley 9ion the shaft 92 of the feed roll with a pulley 93 carried by a stubshaft 94 which is journaled in a bracket 95 secured to one of the sideplates of the frame I. The stub shaft 94 carries on its inner end a gear96 which meshes with a pinion 9? on a shaft 98 journaled in the frameand carrying at its outer end a pulley 99, this pulley being connectedthrough a belt IOI with a pulley I02 on the shaft 6. It is apparent thatthe belt 89 provides for the traversing movements of the feed roll 85previously described.

Immediately above the feed roll 85 is a pinch roll I03, this roll beingadapted to engage the peripheral surface of the feed roll. The pinchroll I03 is supported at its opposite ends in journals I04, and as shownin Figs. 5 and 6, each. of these journals is slidably supported in ajournal-box I05 secured to the fixed frame I through the medium ofscrews I06. Each of the journals I04 is adjustably supported in the boxthrough the medium of a threaded rod I01 which extends upwardly througha hollow adjusting screw I08 threaded into the top of the box I05. Theinner end of the rod IN is pivotally secured to the journal I04 throughthe medium of a retaining screw I09, and the upper end of the rod isprovided with adjusting and lock nuts III and II2, the adjusting nut IIIengaging the top of the hollow screw I08. This latter screw is fixed inadjusted position in the box I05 through the medium of a lock nut II3. Aspring H4 is confined between the top of the journal I04 and the inneror lower end of the adjusting screw I08 and exerts a resilient pressuretending to hold the journal in a depressed position with respect to theadjusting screw I08. The normal position of the journal in the box,therefore, may be determined by adjusting the position of the screw I08in the journal box, and the tension of the spring II4 may be regulatedby adjusting the rod I01 in the adjusting screw E08.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pinch roll I03 is provided with a seriesof circumferential recesses I15, and these recesses provide for passagebetween the pinch roll and the feed roll 85, and past the bite of theserolls, of a corresponding series of fingers II6, which as shown in Fig 5follow the curve-of the feed roll and extend into proximity to theblades I5 of thework cylinder I4. The fingers II6 are supported by anddepend from a bar II! which is secured to the inside of an angle barII8, the ends of this bar being rigidly secured respectively to thejournals I04. The function of the fingers II6 will be hereinafterdescribed. It will be noted that the angle bar II8 also functions tosupport the forward end of a guard plate I i9 which extends upwardly andrearwardly over the work cylinder I4 and the grinding wheel 6|.

Mounted on the rear inner end of the table I5 through the medium ofbrackets I2I is a guard plate I2, this plate extending across the fullwidth of the machine between the side members of the frame I, andpreventing access to the feed roll 05 and pinch roll 83 except through anarrow slot I23 at the lower edge of the plate I22 and between the loweredge and the upper surface of the table 15. This slot is preferably onlyof sufficient width to permit ready passage of a skin to the machine,but prevents the fingers of the operator from contacting either of therolls.

Below the work'cylinder I5 and in peripheral contact with the latter isa rotary brush I24, this brush being supported at opposite ends injournals I25 supported respectively on bars I26, the

rear ends of which bars are pivotally secured on a rod 52? extendingtransversely across the frame I. The forward ends of the bars I26 aresupported on brackets I28 secured to the frame I through the medium ofadjusting screws I29 whereby the forward ends of the bars may beadjusted vertically to in turn adjust the position of the roll I24 withrespect to the work cylinder. The cylindrical brush I24 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 by means of a belt I3I whichoperatively connects a pulley I32 on the brush shaft with a pulley I33on the shaft 98. The bars I26 also constitute a support for a series ofrods I34 which extend upwardly and over the body of the rotary brushI24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and between the bristles of the brush,these rods being secured in transverse bars I35I 36 secured to andextending between the bars I26. The function of the brush I24 and of therods I34 will be hereinafter described.

A second rotary brush I3! is journaled in brackets I38 depending fromthe under side of the table 75, and this brush peripherally engages thefeed roll 85. The shaft of the rotary brush I31 carries a pulley I39which is connected through a crossed belt I4I with a pulley I42 on theshaft 98 whereby the brush is rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 4. It will be noted further that the transverse bar I2'Iconstitutes a support for a hopper I43, the open top of whichimmediately underlies the work cylinder I4 and the immediatelyassociated rolls.

In the operation of the machine as described above, the operator, afterdepressing the treadle 84, slides the skin rearwardly on the table 15under the guard plate I22 and into the space between the pinch roll I03and the feed roll 85. In placing the skin upon the table, the grooves I6in the surface of the latter preclude the trapping of air between theskin and the table top and give assurance that the skin will lie flatlyupon the table. After inserting the skin as described above, the treadle84 is released, with the result that the weights 8'3 carry the feed rollrearwardly into engagement with the pinch roll and into close proximityto the blades I5 of the work cylinder I4. The adjustment of the rods'I'I as previously described determines the spacing of the surface ofthe feed roll 85 from the edges of the blades I5 of the work roll, andthereby determines the depth of cut. The clamping of the skin in thebite of the feed roll 85 and the pinch roll I83 draws the skin inwardlytowards the work cylinder, and the fingers II 6 prevent any tendency ofthe skin to turn upwardly around the pinch roll, and insure that theskin shall be fed flatly and without folds to the work cylinder. As theskin passes downwardly between the feed roll and the work cylinder, therotary brush I24 takes effect to throw the lower edge of the skinforwardly towards the front of the machine, and the rotary brush I31precludes the skin from feeding upwardly with the feed roll, and guidesit downwardly onto the rods I34, which in turn guide the skin outwardlyat the front of the machine. During the operations described above, thegrinding wheel BI is being traversed between the opposite sides of themachine and in engagement with the outer or cutting edges of the bladesI5. The various adjustments previously described give assurance ofuniform operation on the skin by insuring proper and accurate alignmentbetween the blades of the work cylinder and the opposed surface of thefeed roll 85.

In Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, I have shown a modification within thescope of the invention. In this case, the function of the fingers H6 isperformed by a rigid angle bar I44 which extends transversely of themachine below a pinch roll I45 and in proximity to the surface of a feedroll I46. The respective opposite ends of the pinch roll I45 arejournaled in this instance in a bearing I41 carried by a bracket arm I48which is pivotally secured at I49 to a bracket I5I mounted on the frame.The free end of the arm I48 is supported by a set screw I52 which isadjustably secured in a lug I53 on the said arm [48 and bears upon a lugI54 on the fixed bracket I5I. A rod I55 extends loosely through the lugI53 and downwardly through a bracket I56 on the frame I, and a nut I51on the said rod I55 engages the under side of the bracket I55 and actsas a stop preventing upward movement of the said rod. A spring seat I58is held in position on the upper end of the rod I55 by means of a nutI59, and a spring I6I is confined between the seat I58 and acorresponding seat I62 which bears against the top of the lug I53 of thearm I48. This spring Ifil exerts pressure tending to hold the arm I48 inthe depressed position, wherein the set screw I52 engages the lug I54. I

The bar I44 is rigidly secured at each end to a collar I63, which asbest shown in Fig. 13 embraces the bearing I41. The sleeve I63 has anarm I64'containing a segmental slot I65 concentric with the sleeve. Inassembly and as shown in Fig. 13, the arm I64 lies flatly against theface of the bracket arm I48, and is secured to the latter by means of ascrew I66 which passes through the slot I65. When the screw I66 isloosened, the collar may be adjusted around the bearing I41, with theresult that the bar I44 is adjusted with respect to the surface of thefeed roll I 46. It will be apparent that the bar I44 functions to guidea skin inserted between the feed roll I46 and the pinch roll I45 flatlyto the work cylinder I67, and prevents the skin from curling up aroundthe pinch roll I 45. In all other respects, the mechanism shown in Figs.11 to 15, inclusive, corresponds to that disclosed in the precedingfigures.

While the invention is herein described and illustrated in itsapplication to a leather shaving machine, it will be apparent that it isequally applicable to other machines of the same general character,such, for example, as buffing machines, and term work cylinder is,therefore, to be construed to cover other characters of work elementthan the bladed shaving cylinder herein illustrated.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with arotary work cylinder, of a pressure roll coactive with the work cylinderto maintain the work in operative engagement with said cylinder, 2.pinch roll coactive with the pressure roll to feed the work to thecylinder, pivoted arms providing journals for said pinch roll, and meansfor adjusting said arms to regulate the normal position of said pinchroll with respect to the pressure roll, and a guide member mounted onsaid arms for adjustment about the axis of said pinch roll, said guidemember extending continuously from the surface of the pinch roll, andfrom a line on said surface in proximity to the nip of said roll withthe pressure roll, toward the work cylinder, said guide means followingthe contour of and lying throughout in proximity to the surface of thepressure roll and terminating in proximity to the nip of the pressureroll with the work cylinder.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with arotary work cylinder, of a pressure roll coactive with the Work cylinderto maintain the work in operative engagement with said cylinder, a pinchroll coactive with the pressure roll to feed the work to the cylinder,an adjustable support for the pinch roll, said support comprisingcylindrical journal elements for the roll, a guide member journaled onsaid elements and adjustably secured to said support, said guidecomprising a rigid element extending continuously from the surface ofthe pinch roll, and from a line on said surface in proximity to the nipof said roll with the pressure roll, toward the work cylinder, saidguide means following the contour of and lying throughout in proximityto the surface of the pressure roll and terminating in proximity to thenip of the pressure roll with the Work cylinder.

JOHN EDGAR LEACH.

